# diocese

/ˈdaɪəˌsiz/ (US) · /dɪəʊsˈiːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diocese
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. church district

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the area or group of churches that a bishop is in charge of.

For teachers: a territorial unit of church administration under the spiritual and jurisdictional care of a bishop.

- The local diocese organized a food drive to help families in the city.
- The archbishop visited every parish within the diocese to discuss the new educational initiatives and community outreach programmes.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific local district.

### 2. Roman administrative unit

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a large district used for governing the Roman Empire in ancient times.

For teachers: a major administrative division of the later Roman Empire, typically consisting of several provinces.

- In ancient Rome, a diocese was a large area managed by a high official.
- Under the reforms of Diocletian, the empire was partitioned into several dioceses to streamline tax collection and military administration.

Teaching tip: This sense is strictly historical; in modern English, the word almost exclusively refers to church geography.

## Examples

- The bishop oversees several parishes in his diocese.
- The new diocese was created to better serve the growing population in the northern suburbs.
- Historical records show how the boundaries of the diocese shifted over centuries, reflecting changes in political power and religious demographics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.